Device for stamping envelops.



W. KiMELMAN.

DEVICE FOR STAMPING ENVELOPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1916.

Patented July 4, 19 16.

\ANITNES'SI I ATTORNEYS.

WILLIAM KIMELMAN, OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T0 FRANK R. S. KAPLAN, OF MOKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR STAMPING ENVELOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VV1LLIAM KIMELMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at McKeesport, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Stamping Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a device for stamping envelops or the like. It has for its primary objects the provision of an improved device for positioning theenvelops, blotting them, moistening the corners, and applying the necessary pressure to affix the stamps after they are placed in position; and the provision of a device simple in construction, and neat in appearance which can readily be used in connection with an ink bottle holder and pen rack. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of the device, Fig. 2 is a front elevation, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the base plate provided with four legs 2. Above this base plate is what may be termed a presser plate 3, such p'late carrying four depending posts 4 which extend slidably through the base plate. The presser plate is provided on its upper surface with small blocks 5 into which the upper ends of the posts 4 are screwed, the lower ends of the posts being provided with heads to'prevent the accidental removal of the presser plate from the base plate.

The opposing faces of the presser and base plates are provided with blotters 6 and 7 and the corner of the presser plate'is cut away, as indicated at 8 in Fig. 1, to expose the corner of an envelop .9. when held.be tween the two plates. The presser plate is also provided with a handle 10 so that it may be conveniently moved up and down.

Mounted opposite the cut away corner 8 of the presser plate is the moistening pad consisting of a top plate 11 carrying on its lower side a moisture retaining pad 12 of felt or some other material suitable for the purpose. This pad is guided for lateral movement in a member 13 of inverted U-shape in cross-section, as indicated in Fig. 3, such member being securedto the base plate by means of the screws 14. The top of the member 13 is provided with a slot 15 (Fig. 1), and a thumb screw 16 is provided with a shank 17 (Fig. 3) which fits in the slot 15 and has its lower end screwthreaded into the plate 11 carrying the felt or pad 12. A spring 18 is interposed between the top of the member 13 and the under side of the head of the thumb screw. This spring causes the plate 11 to engage the lower side of the member 13 while at the same time permitting the pad to be compressed to provide the required amount of moisture when the thumb screw is forced down. A small plate 19 is preferably provided beneath the pad 12 (Fig. 3).

The base plate is also provided with four Lip-standing corner members 20 to receive an ink bottle 21, and the front side of the base plate" is provided with the depending brackets 22 having the hooked portions 23 and constituting a pen rack; The material employed in the construction of the device is, preferably sheet metal of some kind, either aluminum, brass, or sheet iron cov-, ered with some appropriate coating.

In operation, after a letter has been addressed, it is placed between the two plates and the upper plate moved down, thus gripping the envelop between the two plates. The posts 4 not only guide the presser plate but also act as positioning means for the envelop whose edges are indicated by the dotted lines 24: in Fig. 1. The upper presser plate blots the envelop, thus'rendering unnecessary any blotting before the envelop is placed between the plates. After the envelop is positioned, as indicated in Fig. 1, the thumb screw 16 to which the moistening pad is secured is grasped, and the pad is moved to the left over the exposed corner 9 of the envelop. The plate 19 raises the lower surface of the pad 12 so that it is at the same level as the upper surface of the envelop and therefore, does'not catch on the edge of the envelop as the pad is moved to the left. The spring 18 permits the pad to be compressed after it is moved over the corner 9 to give the necessary degree of moistening. After the pad is moved back to its starting position, the stamp is applied to the corner 9 and the envelop moved partially out so that the corner 9 with the stamp comes beneath the plate 3, when the plate is pressed down to apply the necessary pressure to the stamp. The provision of the legs 2 to give elevation to the plate 1 is advantageous as it provides the space for the guide posts I and for the pen rack brackets 22. The ink bottle holder is located upon a portion of the base plate which would otherwise be superfluous, but which is necessary in order to make the plate symmetrical and because of the moistening device. The device can be used with envelops otany size since the exposure of the part to which the stamp is to be applied is the same regardless of the size of the envelop, and the moistening pad may be kept dampened a relatively long period when withdrawn, into its casing 13. It may be readily taken out for re-wetting by removing the thumb screw 16. If desired, the sealing of the envelop can be accomplished at the same time that the blotting and stamping is accomplished, or this may be done separately at another time. Various other advantages incident to my invention as an improvement in stationary devices will readily beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is: I

1. In combination in a device for stamping envelope, a base member forsupporting an envelop, a moistening pad mounted for movement over the corner of an envelop when supported on the base member, and a presser plate member mounted for movement toward and from the base member and cut away at the portionopposite the moistening pad whereby the pad may be moved over the corner of the envelop when it is held between the base and .plate members.

2. Inco'mbination in a device for stamping envelops, a base member for supporting an envelop, a moistening pad mounted for movement over the corner of an envelop when supported on the base member, and av presser plate member mounted for move ment toward and from the base member and cut away at the portion opposite the moistening pad whereby the padmay be moved over the corner of the envelop when it is held between the base and plate members,

the presser plate member having a blotter on its'lower face.

v3. In combination in a device for stamplng envelops, a base member for supporting an envelop, a moistening pad mounted for movement over the corner of an envelop when supported on the base member, a presser plate member upon the base member, and posts for guiding the plate member vertically and arranged to position the envelop upon the base member, the said plate member being cutaway at the portion opposite the moistening pad whereby the moistening pad may be moved over the corner of the envelop when it is held between the base and plate members, V

i. In combination in a device for stamping envelops, a base member for supporting an envelop, a moistening pad mounted for sliding movement laterallybver the corner of an envelop when'supported on the base plate, and a presser plate above the base plate'guided for vertical movement and having its corner cut away at the portion of the plate member which would otherwise come over the corner of the envelop to be stamped.

5. In combination in a device for'stamping envelops, a base member for supporting an envelop, a moistening pad guided for lateral movement over the corner of an enplate members.

6. In combination in a'device for stamping envelops, a base member for supporting an envelop, a moistening pad guided for lateral movement over the corner of an envelop when supported on the base member and also having a limited vertical move ment, a sprlng for holding the moistening pad at its upper limit of movement, and a presser plate member mounted for movement toward and from the base portion and cut away at the portion opposite the moistening pad whereby the pad maybe moved over the corner of the envelop when it is held between the base and plate members. -WILLIAM KIMELMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for-five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

